2020 M. Sorrel Hermitage Rouge, Northern Rhone

Syrah 80% from Les Plantiers (1970, flat land, 77%), 20% from Les Bessards (late 1980s, 15%), Les Greffieux (late 1980s, 8%), 50% destemmed, 2 week vinification, cap punched, aged 1-6 year 225 & 228-litre oak casks 16-20 months, unfined, unfiltered, 2-3 bottlings, 2400bts JLL ‘Crimson with a light rim. More elegance than power, the fruit floral and lifted, the tannins fine grained and overriding freshness, the alcohol well retained. Good depth all the same and plenty of drive on the finish. Should be accessible relatively early. (JL) Drink: 2025-2038.’

17.5/20 James Lawther MW JancisRobinson.com Oct 2021

Chiefly (90%) from Les Plantiers—a little-known lieu-dit toward the western base of the slope—with about 10% Les Bessards, Sorrel's 2020 Hermitage looks like its customary supple, silky self, with masses of raspberry fruit, ample weight and richness and a long, elegant finish. It should drink well soon after release and evolve well for more than a decade. 2023-2035

92-95 points Joe Czerwinski robertparker.com Jan 2022

Marc Sorrel officially retired at the end of 2018. His son, Guillaume, has taken over. He led me through an extensive barrel tasting in the domaine's small cellars located near the Mairie and bridge to Tournon. Parking is never easy here, but it's worth the walk if you can't find a spot, as the wines from 2017 and 2018 are stunning, fitting testaments to Marc's final vintages. According to Guillaume, they're two years that resemble each other, although he finds more freshness in 2018 and more tannin in 2017. Much of his time will be spent in the vineyards, where he said a big number of vines needed to be replaced. In the cellar, he's using a bit more sulfur to keep the wines fresher during their two years of elevage, and he's no longer going to bottle barrel by barrel, which should help improve the consistency of the wines in the market. At the risk of repeating myself, don't miss the 2017s and 2018s here—especially the Les Rocoules and Le Greal.